Lessons Learned Guiding Principles
At the heart of program innovation, and therefore any successful proposal, is your idea – as mentioned earlier, the idea can be big or little, bold or modest, but above all it must be a viable solution to a real need. The attractiveness of the core idea conveyed in the proposal is key to its success…
At the heart of program innovation, and therefore any successful proposal, is your idea – as mentioned earlier, the idea can be big or little, bold or modest, but above all it must be a viable solution to a real need. The attractiveness of the core idea conveyed in the proposal is key to its success…
Be sure to reflect on and articulate in the proposal what the value is of the proposed program for specific groups of stakeholders (e.g. clients, agency, partners, community), including the funder. What are the aspects of your approach that will make it of special benefit to stakeholders? Show why your agency is the best group to deliver the program, who you will work with to add to your capacity and highlight your past successes.
In addition to competitive bids (or calls for proposals), seek out the hidden pots of money. Consider pitching funders an idea, even if there isn’t a call for proposals. It can pay to be proactive. If you have a good idea, do prospect research to find funders where your idea solution would resonate. Meet with the prospective funders to ‘pitch’ the idea. Know what they are looking for, what their mandate is and use their language.
